Pelosi blames GOP for gridlock

3/10/13 9:52 AM EDT

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Republicans are at fault for a lack of "progress" in Washington - not President Barack Obama's lack of sit-downs with them.

"It is not why we haven't had progress before," the California Democrat said in an interview aired Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," when asked whether Obama should have held more meetings with Republicans. "We haven't had progress before because Republicans are committed to blocking the initiatives of President Barack Obama."

Her comments came several days after Obama extended a hand to the GOP, dining with top Republican senators and having lunch with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).